Gloria's a real star for keeping children in Chandler's Ford community safe

She has spent her retirement working hard to keep children in her community safe.

And Gloria Brown’s daughter thinks it is time her mother’s work was celebrated, which is why she is the latest person to be nominated for the Daily Echo’s Community Star campaign.

Since retiring as a teacher 10 years ago 68-year-old Gloria has devoted her days to making sure children in the Chandler’s Ford community where she lives are well looked after.

Gloria has numerous voluntary responsibilities in her parish which all started when she became a division commissioner and safe from harm trainer for Guide groups across the county. The grandmother of one travels all over Hampshire for the Guide movement training people in how to keep children safe as well as being the chair of the Chandler’s Ford Trefoil Guide, which works with adult Guides.

Gloria also works closely with her church, St Boniface, monitoring CRB checks and she has also written child safety policies for her parish and the schools she used to work for.

Having taught for 40 years at schools in the area such as The Gregg School, Oak Lodge and Woodhill Preparatory School, Gloria is very experienced in looking after children and is very proud of her work in Chandler’s Ford.

Her daughter Gill Bailey said: “She does so much for everybody else and always wants to help. We can’t go anywhere without her bumping into someone she knows.

“She has so much experience working with children and she has massively helped people in her community just by offering advice about safety issues – she is a real giver and I don’t think she knows just how special she is.”

The Community Star campaign, in association with Aster, will run until Friday, August 22, when Daily Echo editor-in-chief Ian Murray, Aster’s regional director Jean Dalziel and their customer board member John Cockaday will choose the winners.

First place will receive £500 and £250 to a charity of their choice, second place will be given £250 and £100 for their chosen charity, then six highly commended nominations will be given £100 and £50 for charity.

A community star can be any member of the public who goes above and beyond to serve their community.